For many , scientists believed the humans originated in East Africa. This belief has changed because of a of 2.4-million-year-old stone found in Algeria. Scientists now believe that Algeria and not East Africa is the cradle of civilization - where began. The new consists of 250 tools. There were also 296 animal bones. The scientists say the animal show that early humans were butchering . Dr Mohamed Sahnouni, leader of the , said: "The evidence from Algeria changes the earlier view that East Africa was the cradle of humankind." He added: "Actually, the of Africa was the cradle of humankind."

Archaeologists have been digging at sites on this project for 25 years. The sharp-edged tools and bones were discovered near the city of Setif, about 200 miles east of Algeria's , Algiers. In , the animal bones excited the scientists. Dr Sahnouni said it is now that humans were butchering animals for meat 600,000 years earlier than thought. A Spanish said: "The use of sharp-edged tools ...suggests that our ancestors were not mere ." She said it wasn't clear whether or not they hunted, but they did compete with animals to get access to meat. Dr Sahnouni now hopes to find the tool-makers and even stone tools